Higher living standards count toward this designation, but they are not enough. Vienna’s general excellence was higher in the 20s, even though the city was much poorer back then, and so Vienna cannot make the list. Los Angeles probably peaked in the 80s and New York arguably peaked in the postwar period through the 1970s or 80s. Chicago might have a claim. Can you think of others? Does Shanghai have a chance, or did it peak around 2000 or so, before it got so polluted and crowded?

The comments section of Cowen's post gets pretty fierce.

Berlin

2. Kuala Lumpur

3. Mexico City

. Berlin

2. Kuala Lumpur

3. Mexico City

4. San Francisco

5. Seoul

6. Toronto

7. Stockholm

8. Lagos

Higher living standards count toward this designation, but they are not enough. Vienna’s general excellence was higher in the 20s, even though the city was much poorer back then, and so Vienna cannot make the list.

Los Angeles probably peaked in the 80s and New York arguably peaked in the postwar period through the 1970s or 80s. Chicago might have a claim. Can you think of others? Does Shanghai have a chance, or did it peak around 2000 or so, before it got so polluted and crowded

- See more at: http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2014/06/cities-at-or-near-their-all-time-peaks-of-excellence.html#sthash.VKhuiYxX.dpuf

1. Berlin

2. Kuala Lumpur

3. Mexico City

4. San Francisco

5. Seoul

6. Toronto

7. Stockholm

8. Lagos

Higher living standards count toward this designation, but they are not enough. Vienna’s general excellence was higher in the 20s, even though the city was much poorer back then, and so Vienna cannot make the list.

Los Angeles probably peaked in the 80s and New York arguably peaked in the postwar period through the 1970s or 80s. Chicago might have a claim. Can you think of others? Does Shanghai have a chance, or did it peak around 2000 or so, before it got so polluted and crowded

- See more at: http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2014/06/cities-at-or-near-their-all-time-peaks-of-excellence.html#sthash.cIdkuKsL.dpuf

1. Berlin

2. Kuala Lumpur

3. Mexico City

4. San Francisco

5. Seoul

6. Toronto

7. Stockholm

8. Lagos

Higher living standards count toward this designation, but they are not enough. Vienna’s general excellence was higher in the 20s, even though the city was much poorer back then, and so Vienna cannot make the list.

Los Angeles probably peaked in the 80s and New York arguably peaked in the postwar period through the 1970s or 80s. Chicago might have a claim. Can you think of others? Does Shanghai have a chance, or did it peak around 2000 or so, before it got so polluted and crowded?

- See more at: http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2014/06/cities-at-or-near-their-all-time-peaks-of-excellence.html#sthash.cIdkuKsL.dpuf

1. Berlin

2. Kuala Lumpur

3. Mexico City

4. San Francisco

5. Seoul

6. Toronto

7. Stockholm

8. Lagos

Higher living standards count toward this designation, but they are not enough. Vienna’s general excellence was higher in the 20s, even though the city was much poorer back then, and so Vienna cannot make the list.

Los Angeles probably peaked in the 80s and New York arguably peaked in the postwar period through the 1970s or 80s. Chicago might have a claim. Can you think of others? Does Shanghai have a chance, or did it peak around 2000 or so, before it got so polluted and crowded?

- See more at: http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2014/06/cities-at-or-near-their-all-time-peaks-of-excellence.html#sthash.cIdkuKsL.dpuf